May 30, 2022

Funding Sought for More ‘Responsive’ Satellite Launches (Source: Roll Call)
A bipartisan group of 25 House members is pressing appropriators to boost funding for a Defense Department program aimed at more rapidly launching satellites and making the broader space enterprise more agile. The vision of the so-called tactically responsive space program is for now about deploying satellites into space more rapidly than a traditional launch.

Instead of taking off from fixed spaceports, only in fair weather and only after long preparation, the idea, which is already being demonstrated, is to launch satellite-bearing rockets from aircraft. Satellites can be launched in this way regardless of weather and off any long runway, a more practical and less predictable process for America’s adversaries to spy on or attack, proponents say. And the faster rate at which satellites can be put in orbit or repaired or upgraded in space, the more capable America’s space assets will be. (5/26)

Space Stocks Had a Rough First Quarter as Several Companies Struggled with Supply Chain Disruptions (Source: CNBC)
Space companies reported results for the first quarter of the year over the past several weeks – with many CEOs complaining of supply chain disruptions pushing back hardware deliveries and launch schedules. “Everyone’s getting delayed. I haven’t heard from a single satellite operator in the last 12 months – whether they’re a new entrant, whether they’re longstanding operators – everyone’s kind of getting moved to the right a little bit, mostly for the same reasons ... the supply chain issues and whatnot,” said Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg.

Many space companies went public last year through SPAC deals, but most of the stocks are struggling despite the industry’s growth. The shifting market environment, with climbing interest rates hitting technology and growth stocks hard, have weighed on space stocks. Shares of about a dozen space companies are off 50% or more since their market debut. Beyond supply chain hiccups, most of the public companies reported continued quarterly losses, as profitability remains a year away or more for many space ventures. (5/28)

Victoria Texas Considers Space Launches From Airport (Source: Victoria Advocate)
Victoria may become a new Houston if a satellite launch station comes here. Economic development officials are discussing the possibility of satellite launches originating from a refurbished runway at Victoria Regional Airport and other proposals in the works. The company involved was not identified, but if a contract were to be signed it could lead to the 9,100-foot runway at the airport being refurbished, hopefully using federal money to carry the load.

Widebody jets could be used to safely launch satellites from Victoria, Titas said. As a renewable first stage of the rocket, he said, satellites could potentially launch once a week. Jets would depart in a northern trajectory and once reaching a safe altitude, turn and head to the Gulf of Mexico. By having the rockets leave the planes over the Gulf, the rocket bodies would return to the water and not threaten people on the land. He said it would take about $50 million to bring the runway up to the specifications needed to launch rockets. (5/28)

Terran Orbital Reports Net Loss of $71.4 Million on $13.1 Million in Revenues, Record Order Backlog (Source: Parabolic Arc)
Small satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital reported a first quarter net loss of $71.4 million on $13.1 million in revenues, but the company said it had a record backlog of $222 million at the end of March. The adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) loss was $14.7 million for the quarter. During the quarter, the company won a contract from the Space Development Agency for 42 satellites for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer constellation. Contracts signed during the first three months of the year totaled $162 million, the majority of the company’s $222 million backlog. (5/29)

SpaceOne Industries Propels NFTs Into Orbit (Source: Parabolic Arc)
What happens when you get a fashion icon and combine his passion for space? You get the year-old company SpaceOne Industries started by Nick Graham, former CEO of Joe Boxer and a designer to astronauts such as Buzz Aldrin. SpaceOne is producing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to be shared by space aficionados, creating fashion for both the metaverse and the real world, and linking it all to augmented reality opportunities. Graham has taken the company into the world of NFTs, which are are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain and cannot be replicated. (5/29)

China prepares to Launch Shenzhou-14 Crewed Spaceship (Source: Xinhua)
The combination of the Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket has been transferred to the launching area, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said May 29. The facilities and equipment at the launch site are in good condition, and various pre-launch function checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned, said the CMSA. (5/28)